Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Halong Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Shenzhen can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Shenzhen?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $59Shenzhen $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $59, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $127. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Halong Bay and Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $29Shenzhen $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $58Shenzhen $184
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Shenzhen? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $14Shenzhen $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer from Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh with D-Class Limousine: $20
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $53
- Private Transfer from Hanoi Cruise Port to Haiphong Cat B Airport: $84
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi Airport (HAN): $43
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi Airport: $47
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $47
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $47
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi city hotels: $43
- PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFER +Join Premium Day Cruise in Halong Bay: $55
- JADE SAILS - 1 Day Cruise in Halong & Lan Ha Bay with TRANSFER: $110
- Halong Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Tour from Hanoi with Limo Transfer: $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong Airport (HKG) -Departure Private Transfer : $46
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Ocean Park Hong Kong: $26
- AIRPORT TRANSFER service : $33
- Arrival Transfer Hong Kong Kai Tak Port to Hong Kong by Minivan: $80
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $71
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $66
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $132
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $121
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Port - Round- Trip Private Transfer : $92
- Hong Kong Airport HKG Private Transfer to Kowloon City: $34
- Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong City Private Arrival Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen and Halong Bay change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHalong Bay $16Shenzhen $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Vegetarian Food Tour: $79
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $92
- Hong Kong Guided Dinner + Laser Show Lounge Entry (2023) | 200+ booked : $101
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $108
- Secret Food Tour With the Locals in Tin Hau Hong Kong w/ Private Tour Option: $109
- Small Group Local Market Walking Tour and Chinese Cooking Class in Hong Kong: $132
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $140
- Private Food Tour With the Locals in Hong Kong: $146
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $147
- Hong Kong Food Tour with a Local: A Feast for Foodies 100% Personalized: $168
- Kowloon Street Food Tour with a Local: 100% Personalized & Private: $168
- Kowloon Night Street Food Tour with a Local: Private & Customized: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $17Shenzhen $17
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $175
- Explore Halong Bay on a Luxury Cruise from 3 to 6-star Options: $130
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $230
- (Official) Athena Royal Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $170
- (Official) Signature Halong Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $160
- (Official) Signature Royal Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $164
- 1 Day Boat Tour: HaLong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Natural Beach and Full Moon Party: $29
- 1 Day Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise with Wego Halong: $40
- 1 night Halong Bay Cruise-Titov Island,Surprise Cave,kayak,meals: $135
- 1 night cruise selection over Halong, Bai Tu Long or Lan Ha Bay: $75
- 1-Day Halong Luxury Cruise,Buffet Meal,Sunset Party,Cave & Island: $50
- 2 Day 1 Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Luxury Rosy Cruise from Ha Long: $195
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Hong Kong Airport Express Tickets - Tsing Yi Station (One Way): $7.84
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $11
- One Way Express Ticket in Kowloon Station Hong Kong Airport: $12
- One Way Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $13
- **HK Resident**sky100 Admission Ticket [F-HC1_HK]: $14
- Round Trip Express Ticket in Tsing Yi Station Hong Kong Airport : $14
- [Entry After 6pm] sky100 Min. 2pax Ticket (F-II_2P): $17
- Victoria Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 Ticket in Hong Kong: $19
- sky100 Tales of Hongkong Admission Ticket F-KE: $21
- Hong Kong Airport Express Tickets Kowloon Station Round Trip: $22
- TramOramic Sightseeing Tour plus 2-Day Tramways Ticket: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $13Shenzhen $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen than you might in Halong Bay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Shenzhen Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.